Ozark season 3

The wait is finally over. Returning to our screens via Netflix is season 3 of Ozark, and it certainly arrives back with a bang. The series opens with the same level of tailored, calculated violence that has shocked audiences before. The plaster is ripped off and immediately we’re back in the action, with a feeling that things are just as fragile as ever. We rejoin the Byrde family, who, after a money-laundering scheme gone wrong, are encapsulated in an ever-winding web of debt owed to a Mexican drug lord.

The last two seasons of Ozark were received with glowing reviews and earned an incredible fan base. Season 1 quickly exceeded all the boundaries of a classic crime drama, drawing comparisons to Quentin Tarantino through the stylised violence and quick-witted edge; darkness and black humour come hand in hand in this series. Ozark has catapulted leading actor Jason Bateman, who plays Marty Byrde, to even greater heights, giving him the chance to show what a talented actor he is outside straight comedy. His pairing with lead actress Laura Linney, who plays Wendy Byrde, creates electric onscreen scenes. Together they create moments of extreme contrast and heightened tension; they are true con-artists to the outside world, as well as to each other.

This season exudes a tone of maturity, like a considerable step up has been taken. This can be seen through the characters: the Byrde children are now young adults who start to adopt the dark traits of their parents; Ruth, played by Julia Garner, is the manager of the Byrde casino, with her and Marty’s business relationship flourishing. Finally, the deceit and cunning of Marty and Wendy’s relationship overflows. This is amplified by one innocent question from an outsider, who asks “Is this legal?”. The naïvety of this statement symbolises how different and irreversible their world is compared to a normal one.

A notable element of this season is the successful transmission of the distinct feeling of dread and panic that the characters go through. This clearly differentiates Ozark from any other crime series. There is a sense of impending doom, married with heroes who are perfectly relatable yet untouchable. This is amplified even more with an incredible soundtrack, which creates a gradual feeling of nervousness building and building. Set against the bright contrasting visualisation of their naturalistic world, it creates an unlikely contrast, lulling the viewer into a feeling of normality before the next shock moment appears. Ozark’s ten episodes are easily digested in the current climate, a welcome respite allowing us to be transported to a world of unimaginable terror, but one which is incredibly gripping and exciting.